Overview & Reviews

Chevrolet sells an impressively wide range of vehicles, from subcompact hatchbacks to huge vans and SUVs. If you're looking for a reasonably priced vehicle, odds are that Chevy will have something to fit your needs.

Chevrolet got its start in 1911. After William C. Durant had been ousted from General Motors, he joined forces with Swiss-born racecar driver Louis Chevrolet to found the Chevrolet Motor Car Company. The company's first offering was the Classic Six. Introduced in 1912, this five-passenger touring sedan could top 65 mph, fast for the time. Chevrolet's storied bowtie logo -- reportedly inspired by the wallpaper of a Paris hotel room that Durant stayed at -- made its first appearance in 1914.

By 1918, Chevrolet's profitability allowed Durant to purchase enough shares in GM to regain control. Chevrolet became another division of GM, and was its largest volume division by the mid-1920s. By 1927, Chevrolet outsold rival Ford, with sales in excess of 1 million units.

In the mid-1930s Chevrolet introduced independent front suspension, which provided a smoother ride over the rough roads of the day. The 1940s saw continued success with affordable coupes, sedans and pickup trucks catering to American families, farmers and businessmen.

By the mid-1950s, Chevrolet, GM's entry-level division, had added a V8 engine, power steering and brakes, power windows and air-conditioning to its list of available features, allowing luxury for those on a tighter budget. Around this time the iconic Bel Air model -- available in coupe, sedan, convertible and wagon body styles -- proved very popular. The company introduced its alluring Corvette in 1953; the vehicle was the first mass-produced car with a fiberglass body.

The 1960s saw the unveiling of the popular, air-cooled Corvair compact, which held the distinction of being the first domestic production car with all-around independent suspension. That decade also witnessed the launch of the compact Nova, the midsize Chevelle and the sporty Camaro, the latter Chevrolet's answer to the wildly successful Ford Mustang. The Camaro proved an instant hit, comprising 10 percent of Chevrolet's total sales in 1967, its first year of production.

In the 1970s, Chevy responded to changing preferences by introducing small cars like the Vega and the Chevette, and by downsizing larger models such as the Caprice and Malibu. The company combated the market domination of foreign nameplates in the 1980s by rolling out the Cavalier. By the end of that decade, trucks and SUVs had started to become increasingly popular with the general consumer, and the brand's mid- and full-size models continue to this day to be some of the most popular on the road.

The '90s and the early 2000s saw the company raising the performance bar with its Corvette (notably the Z06 and, later, ZR1 variants) and reincarnated Impala SS. Chevrolet's Silverado pickup truck and Tahoe/Suburban SUVs continued to be hits as well. By 2010, the Camaro had returned to the lineup after a seven-year hiatus.

Modern times have seen Chevrolet make significant improvements in its small and midsize car models and introduce the Volt plug-in hybrid. The latter provides a nearly 40-mile range on electric power alone, and adds to the company's already well-rounded lineup of cars, trucks and SUVs. Though today's marketplace is very demanding, Chevrolet seems poised to remain a power player through its affordable and innovative vehicles.

User Reviews:

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  Happy With My 100k Truck - 2000 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By swinn - August 22 - 2:00 am

  No major problems at 101,xxx miles. Doesnt burn oil, but did develope the cold start tick at 24,000 mile. Switched to synthetic blend. Also I have a whistling sound coming from the tank area, but told if it turns out to be the fuel pump it would be replaced for free. this problem came while still under factory warranty, but its still driving 75k miles later. Still using factory brakes, but will replace soon.

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  Duramax - Allison - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By DMax - August 22 - 2:00 am

  Quiet, outstanding comfort. A little slow on acceleration to pass at highway speeds. Lots of torque! Good turning radius for long-bed truck. 18- 19 mpg combination highway and around town, 20+ on steady highway driving. Have not yet tried heavy towing. Good access to rear seat in open areas but a bit difficult in tight parking spots. The fit and finish is absolutely perfect - I have not been able to locate a single flaw.

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  WAS an Impala kid - 2001 Chevrolet Impala
  By WAS an Impala kid - August 21 - 11:26 pm

  I had loved the car. I wanted to buy another. THEN all the issues built up over the years. Do highway driving, garaged. The electrical system is very messed up in these cars. My temp gauge has not worked in years in the winter. Now it does not work when air temp is under 80 degrees.had wiring and sensors replaced and it still does not work. gas gauge now floats, directionals go out (mostly when humid), have a $900 oil leak. Under $100 for parts but $800 in labor to lift engine to get to. I also have the traction control and ABS issue. They go on when not needed and disble on their own. We like the new malibu (car of the year) but am so soured on Chevy.

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  Chevy Cavalier. Good Ride! - 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Donnie - August 21 - 9:00 pm

  Again I bought a Chevy. And Im glad. This seems to be a good little car. Just got it 3 weeks ago for about $7800. It only had 41,600 miles on it. Runs like a champ except a rattle at startup which seems to be just until oil reaches the top of the motor, about 1-2 seconds. It has plenty of power. 140 horses to be exact. Has good cold air, good radio and CD, cruise, auto trans, and nice interior. I know its outdated but it was such a popular car so they did not need to redesign fast. My first Cavalier and so far Im happy.

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  As good as advertised, if not, better. - 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
  By mjm - August 21 - 2:15 pm

  It is very quiet and comfortable. The interior is top-notch. The ambient lighting is just right. Gas mileage is good, I can get 34 highway, 24 city. The stereo sounds great, great channel separation. I keep hearing bad things about the trunk... the opening is smaller than most, but is large. I fit two adult bikes in the trunk, when I folded the seats down! I dont have to use a bike rack:) If you are thinking of a Camry, or Accord, take a look at this one, because it is indeed quieter than those. The build quality is excellent. The gaps in the body panels are minimal and consistent. The paint job is perfect, with not too much orange-peel, like Ive seen on the camry and accord.

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  Eval - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By D*MuNNiE - August 21 - 12:06 pm

  Ive only had my Cobalt for less than 2 months. I love it. It has really quick acceleration, and the design of this car, doesnt say Cavalier AT ALL. I get compliments on it all the time. Its just a head turning car. Chevy definitely did a major step up from the way over cooked Cavalier! Right On CHEVY!

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  Nice car - 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By himoses - August 21 - 10:11 am

  Car had surprising acceleration for its class. The car was also extremely quiet and had low road noise. The feedback in the steering is adequate at best. The braking is good and the gas mileage is acceptable. I averaged 29 MPG in hard mixed driving. I could get 35 MPG if this were not a rental and I did not pound it. I dont like the interior materials, but it is sufficient for most people. I also wish the car had on wheel audio controls. This is a very simple, clean, and functional car if you do not need to use the back seat. I generally do not like GM, but this is a nice car for the right price. Better to rent this than to own IMHO.

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  So far...So good! - 1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By bgfromga - August 21 - 4:30 am

  I purchased this truck approximately 2 years ago with only 28,000 miles on it. So far, I have not had any major problems except drivers window motor assembly had to be replaced due to faulty cables. I prevented the passengers from doing the same by removing the door panel and tightening the support bolts. As far as the gas pedal sticking, it is a simple fix by removing the breather tube and cleaning the TB flapper with throttle bottle cleaner...works fine for about 6 to 8 months. The driver seat does make a crunching sound when I turn a curve and lean but found that if you adjust the lower leg lumbar it will quit for some time as well.Gas mileage is good for small V-8 at 20 mpg.

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  Great little Cobalt - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Paul Ronn - August 21 - 1:30 am

  This is only our second new car in 25 years and we picked a good one. The LT Cobalt is great to drive. Corners like a dream and rides like a sports car. We think this is a wonderful car for the money. You get a bunch of neat goodies as standard features in the LT. We are averaging 26 MPG around town.

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  Family Sports Car!!!! - 2007 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Black Tie - August 21 - 1:17 am

  I love this SUV! It is the first 4door car I have ever owned. More powerful than my 70s Vette and 98 Trans Am, handles almost as well. And it can haul my family of five comfortably.